Max Spyware Detector

Review summary

Good points

• Very fast Scans

• Low RAM usage

• Solid detection and removal

Bad points

• Poor blocking

• Lackluster features

• Hard to use

Our verdict

Max Secure Spyware Detector has many things going for it. It has thorough detection, effective removal, fast scans, and is light on PC resources. However, it's poor spyware-blocking and disorganized interface keep it from coming anywhere near the top anti-spyware programs in terms of effectiveness and value.

Full review

Setup

The setup for this program takes a bit longer than your usual anti-virus program. Some programs take less than a minute to be up and running, but this program is more in the 5 minute area.

Although it takes longer than others, it's just as simple. After launching the setup file you won't have to do a thing until the program is ready to use. After it's fully installed, it will immediately ask if you would like to perform your first scan. The product costs $29.99 on the product website.

Scan Performance

The scans for this program are extremely fast. After the first, longer initial scan, the program will take seconds to scan afterward because it will not scan files that were unchanged on your system.

You have your basic Quick and Full scan options to choose from, but there is also a Custom scan option, which lets you customize exactly which drives/folders are checked for threats.

Effectiveness

While Max Secure is effective in detecting and removing spyware, it's not nearly as effective at preventing these threats from installing onto your system in the first place. Other similar programs will scan files before they are manifested onto your PC, but this program seems to let most files through and will only scan them after they have installed on your system. So while you can detect and remove most threats with this program, don't count on it to keep your PC spotless.

System performance

The fast scans of this program won't hog up your PC resources. Both during scans and when idle, this program takes up a very minimal amount of RAM. If you're looking for a program that won't slow down your computer and has fast scans, Max Secure might be an option for you.

Updates

The program updates quite frequently and automatically. You can sleep well knowing your anti-spyware program will always be up to date and you won't even have to lift a finger.

Features

Besides the usual automatic updates and scan scheduler, there is nothing that will really catch your eye in the features department. There is a useful quarantine feature where you can recover files that you didn't want deleted and then make them unscannable. So if there is a file you know isn't harmful that keeps getting detected and removed as spyware, you can just deem it unscannable.

Another useful feature is that it can scan USB devices. Not all programs can do this, so it's nice to see this feature included. You never know where danger can come from.

Ease of use

Max Secure will not be easy to use for the average computer user. The basic scan and remove might be easy enough for the average user to handle, but other features and more advanced tasks may be confusing for many. The program doesn't do a very good job of explaining certain features and has some confusing terminology.

Help and support

The program has a Live Support button built-in that takes you to the product website where you will get instant help over live chat. You won't always get help in the first second, but you will always get a help representative fairly quickly. They also support a toll-free number and remote support.

There is also a blog and forum you can search through on their website to find any topics or articles that relate to your problems.

Overall

Overall Max Secure Spyware Detector is an average anti-spyware program. The program has a lot going for it, but it has too many downfalls for us to put it toward the top of the list. You can certainly find better value elsewhere. Unless you absolutely need a program that scans super fast and won't impact PC performance, we recommend you look at other products higher on our list.

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